Hacker Cinema
Pretty in Pink
1986 · Film · 97 min
Directed by Howard Deutch
Andie is an outcast, hanging out either with her older boss, who owns the record store where she works, or her quirky high school classmate Duckie, who has a crush on her. When one of the rich and popular kids at school, Blane, asks Andie out, it seems too good to be true. As Andie starts falling for Blane, she begins to realize that dating someone from a different social sphere is not easy.
3 positive1 neutralfrom 4 commenters
Where to watch
No streaming data for this title.
4 comments on Hacker News
I remember that feeling, watching John Hughes films as a teenager in northern England. Though sometimes part of his gift was that the sense of adolescent angst was so universal, I could identify with some of the characters despite the exotic setting. And in some cases (e.g. Pretty in Pink) Hughes managed to show us this world of spoilt rich kids through the eyes of someone less privileged.
Tangential, but I think part of the genius of the more recent Sex Education (Netflix) is that the setting is definitely British (accents, landscape) and contemporary (smartphones, fashions) and yet brilliantly evokes a British kid's fantasies of what a High School should be like after watching too many 80s American movies.
Movie soundtracks. I search for the best on Google/YouTube.
"Pretty in Pink, by the way, also has the best soundtrack of any movie I’ve ever seen, with many of the songs specifically written or re-recorded for the film. It is one of the most acclaimed musical compilations in modern cinema, and in 2013 was ranked #11 in Rolling Stone’s list of greatest soundtracks."
From: https://moviewise.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-pretty-in-pink
Wow. I've been a fan of Harry Dean Stanton for a very, very long time. His first credit is in the 1950s-- and he has a movie in post right now!
Some notable films you might want to check out (but might not realize are worth it)
Repo Man 1984 -- a major role for him in a cult classic from the punk rock era. Also young emilio estivez
Paris Texas 1984 -- A great film from the german director Wim Wenders, very much like a german David Lynch
Pretty In Pink 1986 -- A John Hughes film, Harry Dean Stanton plays Molly Ringwald's father in a touching performance
Wild at Heart 1990 -- An avant garde film by David Lynch with Nicholas Cage and Laura Dern in their prime. Probably Lynch's best movie, in my opinion.
The Straight Story 1999 -- Also by David Lynch this is actually a G rated film, about a guy who goes to visit his brother. It's kinda spectacularly touching while still being extremely minimalist in story.
Big Love 2006-2010 -- HBO TV Series about a mormon polygamist marriage, where Harry Dean Stanton plays an evil cult leader, super creepy, super effective and a "you love to hate him situation".
That may be a bit too many suggestions, but I pared it down from the 199(!) credits he has. I have seen all of the above and can recommend them all, though several are avant garde or not designed to be happy fun movies.
Also note he has a movie coming out soon-- Lucky -- where he plays the titular character and it looks to basically be an ode to Harry Dean Stanton.
RIP Harry-- you impacted my life and I will miss you.
>and another 80s movie I'm too twentysomething to recognize
Not one, but several other movies, including at least Pretty In Pink, Footloose, and Mannequin.